I'm old enough to have learned to delay anger at any reports about or coming from the area formerly known to some as Palestine. Initial reports are so often untrue or exaggerated that caution is always advised. If it is true, of course, that the government of Israel has caused part of a Muslim cemetery in Jerusalem to be bulldozed, my anger is going to be well into condition red -- the more so if, as has been reported, the demolition is related to the construction of a Museum of Tolerance planned by the US based Simon Wiesenthal Center.
So I'll hold my temper a while longer although I fear that Nietzsche's warning about becoming the monster you set out to fight may be waiting to make a comeback.
"the more so if, as has been reported, the demolition is related to the construction of a Museum of Tolerance planned by the US based Simon Wiesenthal Center."
ReplyDeleteThe story which you linked to made it perfectly clear that this cemetery had absolutely nothing to do with the Museum of Tolerance:
"The project has sparked controversy because of its proximity to the graves but Abu Atta said the latest demolition work was not related to the museum."
Perhaps a little more care is in order when reporting claims on such an inflammatory subject.
Captain, your a better man than I.
ReplyDeleteI'm seeing red. I have to wait and respond as I'll undoubtedly curse.
Hey what can I say, I was raised in the gutter.
The story I linked to said there was no connection, but others do make a connection. I trust no stories at this point, which was the stated thrust of my post. You'll note, if you read that comments at Raw Story, many are making the connection and of course many are making all sorts of connections and letting loose with wild and sometimes ridiculous assertions about "the Jews" while acting shocked that anyone would see anti-Sematism in any of it.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is always difficult and often impossible to get to when Israel enters the picture.
Needless to say, I'm very disturbed, not only by the stories but by the reaction.
"many are making the connection"
ReplyDeleteMany right wingers are making the connection between Obama and communism. The question is not whether "many" are making the question, but whether there is a connection.
True, but so is the opposite. Where there's a will for there to be a connection, the connection will be asserted -- and passionately. You don't have to look far to find diatribes against all holocaust memorials and museums of tolerance being denounced because of this alleged incident.
ReplyDeleteAnd then there's the other side. It's possible that there is no cemetery there at all. Those "newly renovated" graves may be newly constructed graves with no bodies in them put there purposefully so that there could be a plausible outrage.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/138949
You know, all my life I've faced eye rolling skepticism at the suggestion that there's an ocean of anti-Semitism out there, that people treat you a lot differently when they find out you're Jewish. I still get that reaction, but It's inescapable.